Spathiphyllum plant named ‘SP6531’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Spathiphyllum  cultivar named ‘SP6531’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green foliage, clear white inflorescence and distinctive busy basal growth. The new variety produces a high quantity of spathes all at once, and flowers at 11 weeks from GA3 induction. The new variety is a  Spathiphyllum , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Spathiphyllum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SP6531’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new Spathiphyllumvarieties suitable for commercial pot production. The new varietyoriginated from a cross pollination of two unnamed, proprietary,parents. The inventor has no record of the exact parents involved in thecross. The crossing was made during April 2005.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Daniel Cornelis, acitizen of Belgium, in February 2006 in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the crossing. The new cultivar was found in a commercial greenhouse belonging to the inventor in Melsem-Merelbeke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SP6531’ was first performed ata commercial laboratory in Belgium by tissue culture in April of 2007.Subsequent propagation by tissue culture has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SP6531’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SP6531.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SP6531’ as a new and distinct Spathiphyllumcultivar:

-   -   1. Dark green foliage.    -   2. Clear white inflorescence.    -   3. Distinctive bushy base due to a high number of shoots arising        from the base of the plant.    -   4. High quantity of spathes produced at once.    -   5. Time to flowering 11 weeks from GA3 induction.

PARENT COMPARISON

The inventor is unable to compare the new variety to the parent, as hehas no record of the actual parents used for the cross.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘SP6531’ can be compared to the commercial variety Spathiphyllum ‘Mara’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,422. Plants of ‘Mara’ are similar to plants of‘SP6531’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘SP6531’ hasdarker and smaller leaves than ‘Mara.’ Additionally ‘SP6531’ producesmany more shoots and has a smaller inflorescence than ‘Mara.’

‘SP6531’ can also be compared to compared to the commercial varietySpathiphyllum ‘Alfa CD’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,823. Plants of ‘Alfa CD’are similar to plants of ‘SP6531’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, ‘SP6531’ has much darker leaves than ‘Alfa CD.’ Additionally‘SP6531’ produces many more basal shoots per plant than ‘Alfa CD.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘SP6531’ grown in a greenhouse in Apopka, Fla. Thisplant is approximately 9 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SP6531’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Apopka, Fla., USA. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25°C. at night to 25° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Plants were treatedwith Giberellic Acid at 200 ppm, to induce spathe production inapproximately 11 weeks. Plants were grown in approximately 70% shade.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum hybrid ‘SP6531’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 7 to 10 days at approximately    23° to 25° C.-   Time to produce a fully rooted plantlet: Approximately 12 weeks at    approximately 23° to 25° C.-   Root description: Thick, fleshy roots with fine, fibrous lateral    roots. Color near Greyed-Yellow 161C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Moderate, upright.-   Plant shape: Upright, leaves only slightly arching out.-   Height: Approximately 27 cm to top of foliar plane. Approximately 36    cm to top of tallest spathe.-   Plant spread: Approximately 45 cm in a 6 inch pot.-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: No true branching. Leaves emerge direct    from base of plant.-   Number of clumps of leaves: Average 8 to 10 per plant.-   Number of leaves per clump: Average 12 to 16.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single leaves emerging basally.        -   Average length (excluding petiole).—Approximately 20 cm.        -   Average width.—Average range 6.5 to 7.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating and recurved.        -   Apex.—Moderately cirrose.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Appearance.—Glossy upper surface, matte lower surface.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, veins protruding.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green137A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 138B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green137A, but darker. Mature foliage under side:            Near Green 137D.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Main venation coloration upper side.—Near Green 143C.        -   Main venation coloration under side.—Near Yellow-Green 143C.        -   Lateral venation coloration upper side.—Near Green 137A.        -   Lateral venation coloration under side.—Near Yellow-Green            N144C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximate range between 12 and 16 cm.        -   Width.—At geniculum: Approximately 0.5 cm. Above clump:            Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Other.—Petiole wing present.-   Geniculum:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.-   Petiole wing/petiole sheath:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 10.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143A.

INFLORESCENCE

-   -   -   Arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above or within the            foliage on erect peduncles arising from the petiole sheath.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—On average 8 fully open            spathes in good condition.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn to Winter.        -   Time to flowering.—11 weeks after standard Gibberellic acid            treatment of 200 ppm.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers stay in good condition            approximately 5 weeks on the plant.

-   Spathe:    -   -   Aspect.—Cupped.        -   Length.—Average range 6.5 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Cirrose.        -   Base.—Cuneate, non-symmetrical.        -   Color.—Front when opening: Near RHS White 155C. Back when            opening: Near RHS White 155C. Front when mature: Near RHS            White 155C. Back when mature: Near RHS White 155C, mid-vein            becomes Green 143C. Fading to: Near RHS White 155C, mid-vein            and large lateral veins streaked near Green 143B, both            sides.

-   Spadix:    -   -   Shape.—Columnar, arising from the top of the peduncle.        -   Tip.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—When opening: Near RHS White 155C. Mature: Near RHS            White 155C. Aging: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D.        -   Quantity of flowers per spadix.—Approximately 100.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded.        -   Spadix flower diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Spadix flower depth.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 to 14 cm, measured from base, which            emerges from leaf axil.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.35 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Strength.—Very strong.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   All flower parts and reproductive organs are highly reduced, to the    point of immeasurable.    -   -   Quantity of pollen.—Abundant.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS White 155C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to typical    diseases and pests of Spathiphyllum have been observed. Typical    diseases include Myrothecium, Pythium and leaf Phytophthora. Aphids,    fungus gnats, mealy bugs thrips and white flies are typical pests.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar is a typical    Spathiphyllum, cold tolerant to approximately 5 to 7° C. and does    not tolerate drought.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllumplant named ‘SP6531’ as herein illustrated and described.